Credit system for gaming machines and gaming tables

ABSTRACT

Gaming machines and gaming tables located within the premises of a gaming facility each have a credit system associated therewith. Each credit system includes a central processor unit, a financial card reader, a display and data input device, and a wireless transmitter/receiver operatively connected to the central processor unit for transmitting credit requests to a credit source and for receiving responses to previously transmitted credit requests. The wireless transmitter/receivers communicate with a wireless access gateway connected to a server which functions as a controller for all credit requests and responses thereto.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of application Ser. No.10/779,043 filed Feb. 13, 2004, currently pending, the entire contentsof which are incorporated herein by reference; which is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/874,518, now U.S. Pat.No. 6,739,972, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to facilitating play at gaming machinesand gaming tables, and more particularly to a method of and apparatusfor establishing credit at the site of a gaming machine or a gamingtable.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

People throughout the world enjoy playing slot machines and other gamingmachines at casinos and similar venues. Often a player will select aparticular gaming machine and thereafter play the selected machine foran extended period of time thinking that by so doing the chances ofwinning a large jackpot are increased.

At the present time, however, if the player runs low on cash, it isnecessary for the player to leave the selected gaming machine in orderto obtain additional cash, for example, from an ATM machine. Meanwhile,another player may take over the selected machine and win a jackpot in arelatively short time, much to the dismay of the original player.

Similar circumstances occur at gaming tables such as roulette tables,craps tables, blackjack tables, etc. A player at a gaming table thatruns short of cash has two options available. One possibility is toleave the table in order to obtain cash from an ATM machine or othersource. This opens the possibility that another player will take overthe vacated seat at the gaming table. The other possibility is to obtaincash from the gaming table operator by signing a marker. The latterprocedure is inconvenient in that it often requires as much as 15minutes or more to complete.

The present invention comprises a credit system for gaming machines andgaming tables which overcomes the foregoing and other difficulties whichlong since characterized the prior art. In accordance with the broaderaspects of the invention, individual gaming machines and gaming tablesare provided with credit authorization facilities. More specifically,individual gaming machines and individual gaming tables are providedwith financial card readers and associated display and data inputapparatuses. As used herein the term “financial card” means an ATM card,a credit card, a debit card, or any other type of card which facilitatescommunication with a credit source for purposes of establishing credit.

In accordance with the invention, a player utilizing a gaming machine ora gaming table utilizes the financial card reader located at the gamingmachine or gaming table and the associated display and data inputapparatus to establish communication with the credit source. The creditsource in turn authorizes the requested credit. In the case of a gamingmachine the credit is entered into the credit register of the machinethereby facilitating play. In the case of a gaming table a printerlocated at the gaming table generates a voucher which is exchanged forchips. In this manner a player utilizing a particular gaming machine orgaming table can obtain credit without leaving the gaming machine orgaming table and without waiting for a marker to be authorized.

Preferably the communication link that is established between the creditsystem of the present invention and a credit source includes a wirelesslink between each gaming machine and each gaming table that is equippedwith the credit system of the present invention and a server locatedwithin the casino or other gaming venue. The server in turn establishescommunication with the designated credit source. In this manner existinggaming machines and gaming tables can be retrofitted with the creditsystem of the present invention and newly manufactured gaming machinesand gaming tables equipped with the credit system of the presentinvention can be installed in a gaming facility without the necessity ofdisrupting the facility to facilitate installation of hard wiredconnections to each gaming machine and each gaming table.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the invention may be had by referenceto the following Detailed Description when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying Drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the first embodiment of theapparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of the second embodiment of theapparatus of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the first embodiment of the method ofthe invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the second embodiment of the methodof the invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of a wireless system forestablishing communication between gaming machines and gaming tablesequipped with the credit system of the present invention and adesignated credit source; and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of a variation of the wirelesscommunication illustrated in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A first embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention isillustrated in FIG. 1. A gaming machine 10 can comprise a slot machineor any other conventional gaming machine or device. The gaming machine10 is provided with a credit register 12 which controls the operation ofthe gaming machine 10. The gaming machine 10 is also provided with acoin/currency receiver/counter 14 the function of which is to receive,authenticate, and determine the value of coins and/or currency receivedtherein.

In order to play the gaming machine 10 a player may deposit coins and/orcurrency into the coin/currency reader/counter 14. The value of thecoins and/or currency deposited is communicated from the coin/currencyreader/counter 14 to the credit register 12 thereby establishing acredit balance in the credit register in the amount of the value of thedeposited coins and/or currency. Whenever there is a credit balance inthe credit register 12 play of the gaming machine 10 is facilitated.

As play continues winnings resulting from play of the gaming machine 10are added to the credit balance in the credit register 12. Similarly,losses resulting from play of the gaming machine 10 are deducted fromthe credit balance in the credit register 12. If losses continue untilthe balance in the credit register 12 is zero or nil, the creditregister 12 disables the gaming machine 10.

In accordance with the present invention, the gaming machine 10 isprovided with a financial card reader 16 individual to and located atthe site of the gaming machine 10. As used herein the term “financialcard” means an ATM card, a credit card, a debit card, or any other typeof card which may be utilized to establish communication with a creditsource for the purpose of obtaining credit. The financial card reader 16is operatively connected to a central processor unit (CPU) 17 whichcontains or has access to software necessary for its operation.

The CPU 17 is also operatively connected to a display and data inputapparatus 18 which is utilized in conjunction with the financial cardreader 16. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, thedisplay and data input apparatus 18 may comprise a CRT display, an LCDdisplay, an LED display, or any of the various other types of displaysthat are commonly utilized in association with ATM machines, computers,and the like. Likewise, the display and data input apparatus 18 maycomprise a keypad or keyboard or any of the various other input devicescommonly utilized in conjunction with ATM machines, computers, and thelike.

Assume now that a player wishes to play the gaming machine 10 but doesnot have sufficient cash available to do so. The player inserts afinancial card 20 into the financial card reader 16 and in conjunctiontherewith operates the display and data input apparatus 18 to establishcommunication with a credit source 22. As used herein the term “creditsource” means an entity that can and will issue credit to the bearer ofthe financial card 20 responsive to various predetermined conditions,and is not limited to the entity which actually provided the financialcard 20.

After establishing communication with the credit source 22, the playerutilizes the display and data input apparatus 18 to indicate the amountof credit requested. Assuming that the various conditions necessary forthe authorization of credit in the amount requested are met, the creditsource 22 communicates a credit authorization through the CPU 17. Inmost cases the credit authorization results in a simultaneous deductionof the requested credit amount from an account maintained by the ownerof the financial card 20 with the credit source 22.

Unlike an ATM machine, receipt by the CPU 17 of a credit authorizationdoes not result in the issuance of currency. Rather, the requestedcredit amount as authorized by the credit source 22 is added to thecredit register 12 by the CPU 17, thereby facilitating play of thegaming machine 10.

Assume further that the player that is utilizing the gaming machine 10has been successful and the resulting winnings have been accumulated inthe credit register 12. If the player wishes to discontinue playing thegaming machine 10, the player actuates the gaming machine 10 to cashout. The term “cash out” is used herein in the same way that it is usedin the gaming industry to mean giving the player coins, currency, and/ora voucher equal in value to the value stored in the credit register 12,and simultaneously debiting the credit register 12 to zero.

The component parts of the credit system for gaming machines 10comprising the first embodiment of the invention are preferably housedin a unitary housing 24. In the case of a new gaming machine 10 thehousing 24 would be coincident with the housing of the gaming machine10. In the case of existing gaming machines, the housing 24 could be anattachment to the housing of the gaming machine 10 or a separatestructure positioned immediately adjacent to and secured to the housingof a gaming machine 10. As will be appreciated by those skilled in theart, when the present invention is utilized in conjunction with a gamingmachine, the use of the coin/currency receiver/counter 14 can bedispensed with entirely.

Although the gaming machine 10, the credit register 12, the financialcard reader 16, the CPU 17, and the display and data input apparatus 18are depicted as separate structures in FIG. 1, those skilled in the artwill appreciate the fact that there may be overlap in structure andfunction among the various components. For example, modern gamingmachines are typically provided with a player's card slot which receivesa player's card which records activities of the player at a particularcasino or similar venue in a manner similar to a frequent flyer accountwith an airline. In accordance with the present invention it iscontemplated that the player's card slot of the gaming machine 10 canalso function as the financial card reader. As is also well known,modern gaming machines include numerous electronic displays which can beutilized as part of the display and data input apparatus 18. Data inputdevices normally utilized in operating the gaming machine 10 can also beincorporated as part of the display and data input apparatus 18. Thefinancial card reader 16, the display and data input apparatus 18, andother components of the present invention can also comprise part of acommercially available device such as the POS terminal manufactured byHypercom Corporation of Phoenix, Ariz. and identified by that company asICE 4000.

A second embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention isillustrated in FIG. 2. Certain of the component parts of the secondembodiment of the apparatus of the invention are substantially identicalin construction and function to component parts of the first embodimentof the apparatus of the invention as illustrated in FIG. 1 and describedhereinabove in conjunction therewith. Such identical component parts aredesignated in FIG. 2 with the same reference numerals utilized in thedescription thereof in conjunction with FIG. 1, but are differentiatedthereof by a prime (′) designation.

The second embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention isutilized in conjunction with a gaming table 30 which may comprise aroulette table, a craps table, a blackjack table, or any other gamingtable. A financial card reader 16′ is individual to and utilized solelyin conjunction with an individual gaming table 30. A CPU 17′ isoperatively connected to the financial card reader 16′. A display anddata input apparatus 18′ is utilized in conjunction with the financialcard reader 16′ and is operatively connected to the CPU 17′.

In the use of the second embodiment of the apparatus of the invention, aplayer seated at the gaming table 30 may need to purchase chips to beginor continue play. In any such event the player inserts his or herfinancial card 20′ into the financial card reader 16′ and utilizes thedisplay and data input apparatus 18′ to establish communication with thecredit source 22′ through the CPU 17′. When communication isestablished, the player utilizes the display and input device tocommunicate the amount of desired credit to the credit source 22′.

Assuming that the predetermined conditions for the issuance of credit tothe owner of the financial card 20′ are fulfilled, the credit source 22′transmits an authorization of the requested credit amount to the CPU 17′which in turn relays the value of the authorized credit to a voucherprinter 34. The voucher printer 34 prints a voucher for the amount ofthe credit requested by the owner of the financial card 20′ andauthorized by the credit source 22′. Upon completion of the printing ofthe voucher, a signal is sent to the CPU 17′ canceling the credit amountpreviously allocated. The voucher is exchanged for chips which allowsthe player to begin or continue playing at the gaming table 30.

It is contemplated that the component parts of the second embodiment ofthe apparatus of the present invention are contained within a unitaryhousing 36. In the case of a new gaming table 30, the housing 36 wouldbe coincident with the structure of the gaming table 30. In the case ofan existing gaming table 30, the housing 36 could comprise a separatestructure secured to and operatively connected to the gaming table 30.The central processor unit 17′, the financial card reader 16′, thedisplay and data input apparatus 18′, the voucher printer 34, and othercomponents of the present invention can also comprise part of acommercially available device such as the POS terminal manufactured byHypercom Corporation of Phoenix, Ariz. and identified by that company asICE 4000. It is further contemplated that individual gaming tables 30may be provided with a plurality of central processor units 17′,financial card readers 16′, display and data input apparatuses 18′, andvoucher printer devices 34 to accommodate the needs of players using thetable.

The first embodiment of the method of the present invention isillustrated in FIG. 3. In accordance with the first embodiment of themethod, there is provided a gaming machine having a credit registeroperatively associated therewith. The gaming machine is provided with afinancial card reader which is individual to and utilized solely inconjunction with the gaming machine. The gaming machine is furtherprovided with a display and data input apparatus which is utilized toactuate the financial card reader.

In accordance with the first embodiment of the method of the invention,a player wishing to obtain credit for use in operating the gamingmachine inserts a financial card into the financial card reader andthereafter utilizes the display and data input apparatus to obtaincredit authorization from the credit source. More specifically, acentral processor unit (CPU) and the display and data input apparatusare utilized to request authorization of a specific credit amount fromthe credit source.

Assuming the predetermined conditions are satisfied, the credit sourceauthorizes credit in the requested amount. The authorized credit istransferred from the credit source to the credit register of the gamingmachine. The transfer step may be accomplished utilizing the facilitiesof the CPU.

After the requested credit has been transferred from the account of thefinancial card owner with the credit source to the credit register ofthe gaming machine, the financial card owner plays the gaming machine.Winnings and losses resulting from the play of the gaming machine aretransferred from the gaming machine to the credit register. To theextent that a credit balance is maintained in the credit register, theplayer has the option of either continuing or discontinuing play. In theevent play is discontinued, the player actuates the display and datainput apparatus and the CPU to cash out.

If the play of the gaming machine by the owner of the financial cardresults in losses which reduce the balance of the credit register of thegaming machine to zero, the player can decide either to continue play orto quit play. In the event the owner of the financial card elects tocontinue play, the financial card and the display and data inputapparatus are once again utilized to obtain credit form the credit cardissuer.

The second embodiment of the method of the invention is illustrated inFIG. 4. In accordance with the second embodiment of the invention, agaming table is provided with a financial card reader and an associateddisplay and data input apparatus. The gaming table is also provided witha voucher printer.

In the event the owner of a financial card requires credit either tobegin or to continue play at the gaming table, the financial card readerand the display and data input apparatus are utilized to establish acommunication link between a central processor unit (CPU) and the creditsource, and to request a designated amount of credit from the creditsource. Assuming that predetermined conditions are established, thecredit source establishes credit in the requested amount and subtractsthe requested amount of credit from the account of the financial cardowner with the credit source. The requested credit authorization iscommunicated from the credit source to the CPU at the gaming table. TheCPU then actuates the voucher printer to print a credit voucher onbehalf of the financial card owner. Simultaneously with completion ofthe printing step, a signal is sent to the CPU which cancels the creditamount previously stored therein. At the gaming table the financial cardowner exchanges the credit voucher for chips thereby facilitating playat the gaming table.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a wireless communication system 40useful in the practice of the present invention. A plurality of gamingmachines 42 and a plurality of gaming tables 44 are located within thepremises of a gaming facility 46, for example, a casino. Each of thegaming machines 42 is provided with a credit system constructed inaccordance with the present invention and described hereinabove. Each ofthe gaming tables is provided with at least one credit systemconstructed in accordance with the present invention and describedhereinabove. The credit systems of the present invention which areassociated with the gaming machines 42 and with the gaming tables 44 areeach provided with a wireless communication device, as part of awireless communication system 40, which is utilized to establishcommunication between a particular gaming machine 42 and a designatedcredit source 48 or between a particular gaming table 44 and a creditsource 48. Although only one credit source 48 is shown in the drawings,those skilled in the art will understand that the wireless communicationsystem 40 is capable of selectively communicating with an unlimitednumber of credit sources 48, and that the credit source 48 shown in thedrawings is representative only.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5 the gaming machines42 situated within the premises of the gaming facility 46 are arrangedin clusters. An intermediate wireless access gateway 50 is associatedwith each cluster of gaming machines 42. Similarly the gaming tables 44located within the premises of the gaming facility 46 are arranged inclusters, and an intermediate wireless access gateway 50 is associatedwith each cluster of gaming tables 44.

Each intermediate wireless access gateway 50 in turn communicates with amaster wireless access gateway 52. All transmissions from and to thecredit systems associated with the gaming machines 42, the gaming tables44, the wireless access gateways 50, and the wireless access gateway 52are encrypted using conventional encryption techniques therebypreventing identity theft and similar problems. The master wirelessaccess gateway 52 is connected in communication with an applicationserver 54. The function of the application server 54 is to serve as thecontroller for all credit verification transactions.

The application server 54 collects all credit requests from each of thegaming machines 42 and from each of the gaming tables 44 located withinthe premises of the gaming facility 46, and routes each credit requestto a designated credit source 48. The application server 54 also routescredit authorizations and denials back to the individual gaming machine42 or to the individual gaming table 44 from which the credit requestwas originated. The application server 54 is adapted to handle thousandsof transactions per second and can be appropriately scaled to handle thecredit authorization needs of a particular gaming facility 46.

The application server 54 may be connected through a firewall 56 to thedata processing facility 58 of the gaming facility 46. This allowstransmission of certain data relating to the operation of the gamingmachines 42 and the gaming tables 44 to the data processing facility 58.The firewall 56 prevents the gaming facility from having access tofinancial card data and other private information relating to users ofthe facility.

The application server 54 is also connected through a router 60, afirewall 62, and facilities 64 comprising the internet to the dataprocessing facility 66 of the operator of the credit systemsincorporating the present invention which are utilized within thepremises of the gaming facility 46. This allows the operator to monitoreach credit system to assure that it is operating properly and isproperly communicating credit requests and responses thereto to and fromdesignated credit sources.

Most importantly, the application server 54 is connected through therouter 60 and the firewall 62 to the data processing facilities of eachdesignated credit source 48 either through facilities 64 comprising theinternet or through facilities 68 comprising a private network. In thismanner the application server 54 functions to collect each creditrequest that it receives from the credit system of the present inventionassociated with one of the gaming machines 42 or with one of the gamingtables 44 and to direct each credit request to the designated creditsource 48. Subsequently, the application server 54 receives a responseto the credit request, comprising either a credit authorization or adenial of credit from the designated credit source 48 and routes theresponse to the originating credit system. Assuming that credit isauthorized the authorized credit amount is then added to the creditregister of the originating credit system to facilitate gaming at thegaming machine 42 or at the gaming table 44 associated with theoriginating credit system. Conversely, if a particular credit request isdenied by the credit source, the user of the gaming machine or gamingtable associated with the originating credit system is so advised.

FIG. 6 illustrates a variation of the wireless communication systemillustrated in FIG. 5 and described hereinabove in conjunctiontherewith. The variation of the wireless communication system shown inFIG. 6 is identical to the wireless communication system shown in FIG. 5except that in the system of FIG. 6 the intermediate wireless accessgateways 50 are eliminated. Thus, rather than communicating with themaster wireless access gateway 52 through the intermediate wirelessaccess gateways 50, the credit systems individual to each of the gamingmachines 42 and each of the gaming tables 44 communicate directly withthe master wireless access gateway 52.

By way of example only, and not by way of limitation, the followingcomponents may be utilized in the construction of the wirelesscommunication systems shown in FIGS. 5 and 6: Component ManufacturerIntermediate Access Cisco ® Aironet ® 1200 Series Wireless Gateways 50Wireless Access Point Master Wireless Cisco ® Aironet ® 1200 or 1400Access Gateway 52 Series Wireless Access Point Application Server 54IBM ® p650 Server running AIX 5.2 operating system Firewalls 56 and 62Cisco ® PIX 500 Series Firewall Router 60 Cisco ® 2600 Series Router

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated inthe accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing DetailedDescription, it will be understood that the invention is not limited tothe embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements,modifications, and substitutions of parts and elements without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

1. A system for facilitating the operation of a plurality of gamingmachines located within the premises of a gaming facility comprising: aplurality of credit systems each individual to one of the gamingmachines and each including: (a) a credit register individual to andoperatively associated with a gaming machine for controlling theoperation of the gaming machine; (b) a central processor unit individualto the gaming machine and operatively connected to the credit registerthereof; (c) a financial card reader individual to the gaming machineand operatively associated with the central processor unit thereof; (d)a display and data input apparatus individual to the gaming machine andoperatively associated with the central processor unit thereof; (e) thecentral processor unit responsive to inputs received from the financialcard reader and from the display and data input apparatus for generatingcredit authorization requests and for receiving responses to previouslygenerated credit authorization requests; and (f) a wirelesstransmitter/receiver for wirelessly transmitting credit authorizationrequests generated by the central processor unit and for wirelesslyreceiving responses to previously generated credit authorizationrequests; the plurality of gaming machines being divided into at leasttwo clusters; a master wireless access gateway for receiving wirelesssignals from each of a plurality of intermediate wireless accessgateways and for directing wireless transmissions to each of theplurality of intermediate wireless access gateways; a plurality ofintermediate wireless access gateways each associated with one of theclusters of gaming machines for receiving credit requests from thecredit systems of the gaming machines within the associated cluster andfor transmitting responses to credit requests back to the originatingcredit system and for relaying credit requests to the master wirelessaccess gateway and for receiving responses to credit requests from themaster wireless access gateway; and a server operatively connected tothe master wireless access gateway for directing each credit requestreceived from each of the plurality of intermediate wireless accessgateways associated with the credit systems of each gaming machine tothe designated credit source and for subsequently directing responses tothe credit requests received from the credit sources back to theoriginating credit systems through the wireless transmitter/receiverthereof.
 2. The system according to claim 1 wherein each gaming machinehas a housing and wherein the central processor unit, the financial cardreader, and the display and data input apparatus of each credit systemare mounted within the housing of the gaming machine individual to thecredit system.
 3. The credit system according to claim 1 wherein thegaming machine has a housing and further including a housing for thecentral processor unit, the financial card reader, and the display anddata input apparatus of the credit system of the gaming machine which issecured to the housing of the gaming machine.
 4. A system forfacilitating the operation of a plurality of gaming tables locatedwithin the premises of a gaming facility comprising: a plurality ofcredit systems each individual to one of the gaming tables and eachincluding: (a) a central processor unit individual to and operativelyassociated with a gaming table; (b) a financial card reader individualto the gaming table and operatively connected to the central processorunit thereof; (c) a display and data input apparatus individual to thegaming table and operatively associated with the central processor unitthereof; (d) the central processor unit for receiving data from thefinancial card reader from the display and data input apparatus and forgenerating credit authorization requests and for receiving responses topreviously generated card authorization requests; and (e) a wirelesstransmitter/receiver for wirelessly transmitting credit authorizationrequests generated by the central processor unit and for wirelesslyreceiving responses to previously generated credit authorizationrequests; the plurality of gaming tables being divided into a at leasttwo clusters; a master wireless access gateway for receiving wirelesssignals from each of a plurality of intermediate wireless accessgateways and for directing wireless transmissions to each of theplurality of intermediate wireless access gateways; a plurality ofintermediate wireless access gateways each associated with one of theclusters of gaming tables for receiving credit requests from the creditsystems of the gaming tables within the associated cluster and fortransmitting responses to credit requests back to the originating creditsystem and for relaying credit requests to the master wireless accessgateway and for receiving responses to credit requests from the masterwireless access gateway; and a server operatively connected to themaster wireless access gateway for directing each credit requestreceived from each of the plurality of intermediate wireless accessgateways associated with the credit systems of each gaming table to thedesignated credit source and for subsequently directing responses to thecredit requests received from the credit sources back to the originatingcredit systems through the wireless transmitter/receiver thereof.
 5. Thesystem according to claim 4 wherein each gaming table has a housing andwherein the central processor unit, the financial card reader, and thedisplay and data input apparatus of each credit system are mountedwithin the housing of the gaming table individual to the credit system.6. The system according to claim 5 wherein the gaming table has ahousing and further including a housing for the central processor unit,the financial card reader, and the display and data input apparatus ofthe credit system of the gaming table which is secured to the housing ofthe gaming table.
 7. The system according to claim 5 further comprisinga voucher printer operatively connected to the central processor unitfor printing credit vouchers responsive to credit approvals received bythe central processor unit from the credit source.
 8. A credit systemfor gaming tables comprising: a plurality of gaming tables; a centralprocessor unit individual to each gaming table; a voucher printerindividual to each gaming table and operatively connected to the centralprocessor unit thereof for printing credit vouchers; a financial cardreader individual to each gaming table and operatively connected to thecentral processor unit; a display and data input device individual toeach gaming table and operatively connected to the central processorunit; the central processor unit for receiving data from the financialcard reader and from the display and data input apparatus, forestablishing communication with a credit source, for receiving a creditamount from the credit source, and for operating the credit voucherprinter of the gaming table to print a credit voucher having a valueequal to the amount of credit transferred from the credit source; awireless transmitter/receiver operatively connected to the centralprocessor unit for transmitting requests for credit and for receivingresponses to previously transmitted requests from the credit source; theplurality of gaming tables being divided into at least two clusters; amaster wireless access gateway for receiving wireless signals from eachof a plurality of intermediate wireless access gateways and fordirecting wireless transmissions to each of the plurality ofintermediate wireless access gateways; a plurality of intermediatewireless access gateways each associated with one of the clusters ofgaming tables for receiving credit requests from the credit systems ofthe gaming tables within the associated cluster and for transmittingresponses to credit requests back to the originating credit system andfor relaying credit requests to the master wireless access gateway andfor receiving responses to credit requests from the master wirelessaccess gateway; and a server operatively connected to the masterwireless access gateway for directing each credit request received fromeach of the plurality of intermediate wireless access gatewaysassociated with the credit systems of each gaming table to thedesignated credit source and for subsequently directing responses to thecredit requests received from the credit sources back to the originatingcredit systems through the wireless transmitter/receiver thereof.
 9. Thecredit system according to claim 8 wherein the gaming table has asupport structure and wherein the central processor unit, the creditvoucher printer, the credit register, the financial card reader, and thedisplay and data input apparatus are mounted within the supportstructure of the gaming table.
 10. The credit system according to claim8 wherein the gaming table has a support structure and wherein thecentral processor unit, the credit voucher printer, the credit register,the financial card reader, and the display and data input apparatus aremounted within a housing which is secured to the support structure ofthe gaming table.
 11. A method of credit authorization for gamingmachines including the steps of: providing a plurality of gamingmachines; providing a credit register individual to and operativelyassociated with each gaming machine for controlling the operation of thegaming machine; providing a central processor unit individual to eachgaming machine and operatively connected to the credit register thereof;providing a financial card reader individual to each gaming machine andoperatively connected to the central processor unit thereof; providing adisplay and data input apparatus individual to each gaming machine andoperatively connected to the central processor unit; utilizing thecentral processor units to receive data from the financial card readersand from the display and data input apparatuses and to generate requestsfor credit; utilizing the central processor units to transfer credit inpredetermined amounts from a credit source to the credit registers ofthe gaming machines; providing a wireless transmitter/receiverindividual to each gaming machine and operatively connected to thecentral processor unit for transmitting requests for credit to a creditsource and for receiving responses to previously transmitted requestsfrom the credit source; dividing the plurality of gaming tables into atleast two clusters; providing a master wireless access gateway forreceiving wireless signals from each of a plurality of intermediatewireless access gateways and for directing wireless transmissions toeach of the plurality of intermediate wireless access gateways;providing a plurality of intermediate wireless access gateways eachassociated with one of the clusters of gaming machines for receivingcredit requests from the credit systems of the gaming machines withinthe associated cluster and for transmitting responses to credit requestsback to the originating credit system and for relaying credit requeststo the master wireless access gateway and for receiving responses tocredit requests from the master wireless access gateway; and providing aserver operatively connected to the master wireless access gateway fordirecting each credit request received from each of the plurality ofintermediate wireless access gateways associated with the credit systemsof each gaming machine to the designated credit source and forsubsequently directing responses to the credit requests received fromthe credit sources back to the originating credit systems through thewireless transmitter/receiver thereof.
 12. The method according to claim11 wherein the step of providing the gaming machine is furthercharacterized by providing the gaming machine having a housing andincluding the additional step of mounting the central processor unit,the financial card reader, and the display and data input apparatuswithin the housing of the gaming machine.
 13. The method according toclaim 11 wherein the step of providing the gaming machine is furthercharacterized by providing the gaming machine having a housing andincluding the additional steps of mounting the central processor unit,the financial card reader, and the display and data input apparatus inan auxiliary housing, and securing the auxiliary housing to the housingof the gaming machine.
 14. A method of providing credit at gaming tablesincluding the steps of: providing a plurality of gaming tables;providing a credit voucher printer individual to and located at the siteof each gaming table; providing a central processor unit individual toand located at the site of each gaming table; providing a financial cardreader individual to and located at the site of each gaming table;providing a display and data input apparatus individual to and locatedat the site of each gaming table; providing a wirelesstransmitter/receiver individual to and located at the site of eachgaming table and operatively connected to the central processor unit;dividing the plurality of gaming tables into at least two clusters;providing a master wireless access gateway for receiving wirelesssignals from each of a plurality of intermediate wireless accessgateways and for directing wireless transmissions to each of theplurality of intermediate wireless access gateways; providing aplurality of intermediate wireless access gateways each associated withone of the clusters of gaming tables for receiving credit requests fromthe credit systems of the gaming tables within the associated clusterand for transmitting responses to credit requests back to theoriginating credit system and for relaying credit requests to the masterwireless access gateway and for receiving responses to credit requestsfrom the master wireless access gateway; and providing a serveroperatively connected to the master wireless access gateway fordirecting each credit request received from each of the plurality ofintermediate wireless access gateways associated with the credit systemsof each gaming table to the designated credit source and forsubsequently directing responses to the credit requests received fromthe credit sources back to the originating credit systems through thewireless transmitter/receiver thereof; utilizing the central processorunit to receive data from the financial card reader and display and datainput apparatus and to establish communication with a credit source andto transfer a requested credit amount from the credit source to thecredit voucher printer; utilizing the wireless transmitter/receiver totransmit requests for credit from the central processor unit and forreceiving responses to requests for credit; and thereafter utilizing thecredit voucher printer to print a credit voucher.
 15. The creditauthorization system for gaming tables according to claim 14 wherein thestep of providing a gaming table is further characterized by the step ofproviding a gaming table having a support structure and including theadditional step of mounting the credit voucher printer, the centralprocessor unit, the financial card reader, and the display and datainput apparatus within the housing of the gaming table.
 16. The creditauthorization system for gaming tables according to claim 14 wherein thestep of providing a gaming table is further characterized by providing agaming table having a support structure and including the additionalsteps of mounting the credit voucher printer, the central processorunit, the financial card reader, and the display and data inputapparatus in a housing and securing the housing to the support structureof the gaming table.